Norgren

In 1927, in his Denver, Colorado home, an inventor and industrialist named Carl Norgren set out to solve a problem he was having with his air tools and paint-spraying equipment. He designed a system to inject a fine mist of oil into the compressed air line, dramatically improving the performance and lifespan of his equipment. This invention, born out of necessity at his kitchen table, was the world's first inline lubricator and the foundation of the C.A. Norgren Co. The business wasn't just about a single product. Norgren quickly established a reputation for engineering excellence in the field of pneumatics, developing a range of products for air preparation, including filters, regulators, and lubricators. The company grew steadily, becoming a key supplier to industrial sectors that relied on compressed air to power their operations. A significant chapter in the company's journey began in 1972 when it was acquired by Imperial Metal Industries (IMI plc). This wasn't a hostile takeover but a strategic move that provided Norgren with the resources to expand its global reach and product portfolio. Under the IMI umbrella, the company continued to thrive, eventually becoming the cornerstone of IMI's fluid power division. Today, operating as IMI Norgren, it stands as a global leader in motion and fluid control technologies, a direct evolution from that single, ingenious solution developed nearly a century ago.